Staff ReporterSHILLONG, Dec 13: In spite of the NGT ban on coal mining activities in Meghalaya, thirteen labourers lost their lives when the coal mine from which they were attempting to dig out fresh coal collapsed on Thursday.Confirming this, district police chief Silvester Nongtyngnger said as per information received, reportedly around 13 persons including 3 locals of Lumthari village were trapped inside the coal mine at Ksan near Lyteiñ River under Saipung police station.

New Delhi, Dec 13 (IANS): The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the personal appearance of the Civil Aviation Secretary, Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman and CEOs of Indigo and SpiceJet airlines before the Meghalaya High Court in the event of their failure to decide on the date of commencement of flights from Umroi Airport in Shillong to Delhi and other metros.A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Sanjay Krishan Kaul and Justice K.M. Joseph stayed the operation of the high court order directing the officials, after senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi told the apex court that a meeting between the representatives of the airlines and Aviation Secretary was to take place at 11 a.m.

Hyderabad, Dec 13 (IANS): AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday termed as unacceptable the judgment of Meghalaya High Court that India should have been a Hindu nation.The Member of Parliament from Hyderabad said the judiciary and the government should take note of this judgement as an attempt was being made to spread hatred.

Staff ReporterSHILLONG, Dec 13: The Chief Engineer (Commercial) has informed that as the Data center at Guwahati is now operational and all critical services have been made active electricity billing and collection of electricity bills of MePDCL for all major towns namely Shillong, Jowai, Tura, Nongpoh, Sohra, Mairang, Nongstoin, Williamnagar, Resubelpara are now restored.

Staff ReporterTura, Dec 13: A joint task force comprising of the Border Security Force (BSF), personnel from the district administration and state police destroyed a huge amount of illegally cultivated hemp in the district of South West Garo Hills (SWGH) district on Thursday.